Pulse first team to lift Robyn Broughton Legacy Trophy
The Pulse has overtaken the Tactix to claim the No.1 spot at the end of Round 12, but they weren’t always dominant in the match with bottom-placed Steel.
The Central Pulse will return from a trip to Invercargill with the new Robyn Broughton Legacy Trophy and the top spot on the ANZ Premiership competition ladder after a convincing 65-38 win over the Southern Steel on Monday night.
The Pulse has overtaken the Tactix to claim the No.1 spot at the end of Round 12, but they weren’t always dominant in the match with bottom-placed Steel.
There was little between the two sides in a low-scoring first quarter. While it was dogged Pulse wing defence Fa’amu Ioane’s 100th national league match, it was her captain Kelly Jackson who stole the limelight. She ended up with 15 gains including six intercepts.
The Pulse went ahead – albeit only by one goal, 11-10, at the end of the first quarter.
The Pulse brought goal attack Tiana Metuarau into their shooting circle at the same time the Steel turned to Summer Temu at goal shoot.
The move initially benefitted the Pulse as they eased out to a double-figure advantage on the back of the Steel only scoring one goal in the space of eight minutes in the second quarter.
Although Temu and Georgia Heffernan started to click in the Steel circle, well fed by the bullet-style passing of new signing Charlotte Lourey, the Pulse went into the halftime break at 25-17 ahead.
While the combination of Claire Kersten and Whitney Souness controlled the Pulse attack, the duo of Parris Mason and Jackson were again dominant in defence.
Mason left the court to have an ankle injury strapped after a mid-quarter trip but was back causing havoc for the Steel shooters in a flash.
The Pulse grew in confidence as the Steel struggled and won the third quarter 19-10.
Down 44-27, the Steel had moments of clarity in the final quarter, with Heffernan putting away some clean long shots to end with 20 goals from 34 attempts (87 percent).
Salmon, who copped an accidental elbow to the nose, improved with accuracy as the game went on to finish with 53 from 62 (85 percent).
The Steel still has three games to play in the 2024 ANZ Premiership with its next outing against the Northern Mystics in Auckland on Sunday.
Official Result and Stats:
Southern Steel: 38
Central Pulse: 65
Shooting Stats - Steel:
Grace Namana 11/16 (69%)
Georgia Heffernan 20/24 (83%)
Summer Temu 7/7 (100%)
Shooting Stats - Pulse:
Martina Salmon 53/62 (85%)
Kiana Pelasio 3/5 (60%)
Tiana Metuarau 9/12 (75%)